Monday, April 29, 2013

Spring in the Garden

It seems that this is the time of the year that the garden beckons me outside more and more.  Other than the countless weeds that multiply faster than rabbits, things are really blooming out.  I have quite a few Cymbidium orchids that are always so pretty at this time of the year.  Many of them are plants from my father who has been gone almost thirteen years.



I love this little green one.


The cactus is also blooming.  I just love this plant with the giant flowers.




Other than the blog hops, I have been sewing some.  Months ago I participated in a Low Volume Swap and I have been playing around with them.  I am just sewing the blocks together as I make them to encourage random placement.   I think I will do eight rows so I am halfway there.



The blue dotted block is coming out because it really does not play well in the mix. 

I had a couple of the granddaughters over to make themselves some costumes for their spring show at school.



My mug rug for our swap is made and sent out to Linda (who no longer blogs).  Linda loves Doxies and has several at her house so when I saw this mug I knew who had to own it.



This is the gorgeous mug rug that Linda sent to me.  The tiny flowers are so perfect and so pretty.



I've had a lot of fun mail arrive lately too, including this wonderful package from Shanna.  I had won the charm packs, but Shanna send this entire box full of selvages since she knows that I collect them.   Between Shanna and a high school friend of mine, I am slowly getting close to starting my selvage quilt. 



Have you seen the lovely blue canning jars that Ball has come out with to celebrate their 100th anniversary?  Even if you don't can, they are wonderful for vases or tall glasses of lemonade.  Since I can, I am looking forward to using them.




I've joined my first ever Bee - Japanese Xs and +s.  I have enjoyed seeing this block and look forward to swapping some each month.



My goal for this month's Lovely Year of Finishes and Monthly To Do List was to finish all of my blocks for Easy Street.  I am happy to say that they are all done. Now I have to sew them all together.  I must have the last Easy Street completion.  I hope to finish before the next one comes out in December ;-)

 
 
 
 


We have grandchildren staying with us for a week starting tomorrow so I will have very little computer time.  I'll check in when I get a chance.

33 comments:

  1. Pretty pictures and lots of great projects. I have not finished my Easy Street either. That is a big quilt!

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  2. I had no idea about those gorgeous blue jars and need to find me some! DH just told me to get them too! So...where might I find them?
    Now, quilting...wow oh wow to the first quilt in the making. That is such an interesting pattern. Where do you find the time for sewing for grand too? Oh gosh, lots to comment on here...mug rugs...sweet! I really ought to play more!

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  3. What a wonderful post to read and see! Your swap quilt is so sweet, and your blocks are wonderful! You have such a flair for choosing fabrics! The mug rugs are great!

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  4. That is a beautiful cactus. I've never seen that shape flower on a cactus before.

    I like your low volume quilt. I never have sucess with them.

    Can you tell me where to find the Doxie pattern? I have 3 friends with doxies.

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  5. Your plants are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing with us. I just love this time of year. Your sewing projects are terrific. I thought of joining that Japanese + and x but hated that most of the members were in Europe so I decided not to. I'll be looking forward to seeing your blocks. Enjoy your grandchildren.

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  6. my, my, you are a busy lady. Now I feel the need to jump off the couch and play catch up. Lots of loveliness to show for it too.
    Cath @ Bits 'n Bobs

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  7. Both mug rugs are too cute...love the doxie! How in the world do you manage your garden and all the beautiful flowers! Your orchids are beautiful

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  8. I love ball canning jars. Those blue ones are gorgeous. I only ever use them for flowers but maybe someday I'll put them to their proper function.

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  9. Such a newsy post and my you have been busy. I've been getting some fun jars at Cost Plus World Market. I'm glad to see more glass being used these days.

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  10. so jealous of your garden! We got snow again today...YUCK

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  11. Mary your garden is stunning. I love the new jars, where did you buy them?

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  12. I love the new jars too! Your gargen is lovely but that cactus is a show stopper!

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  13. I bought some of those blue jars too! They're beautiful! :0)

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  14. The flowers are just so lovely. It will be a while yet before I can see that sort of beauty here. I like how the low volume quilt is coming out.

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  15. Lovely flowers! Yes it is Spring in your garden! You stay so busy sewing! Wonderful projects! Mug rugs adorable! Cute gals in their aprons too! Have only seen these jars online! Need to find some too!

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  16. Now I'm going to hunt down blue canning jars. I use them to store things in the pantry. Those are the biggest Christmas cactus blossoms I've even seen. Gorgeous and how special to have your dad's orchids. I've seen lots of low volume quilts here and there and this is a very pretty one -- I like the setting.

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  17. I haven't finished my Easy Street yet either - the top is done but I made it smaller than the original. The fmq and the binding are still waiting! What lovely mug rugs!

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  18. That low volume swap quilt is gorgeous! And the flowers - yum! I don't can, but I'm going to get me some of those blue caning jars. I want to make some of those ingredients-in-a-jar gifts for friends and neighbors this year for Christmas, and I will use those jars.

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  19. No, you won't be last. I have the side triangles done, but only one block. Trudging along. Jo Anna

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  20. i have some of the old blue jars , their was a bunch here when we moved here so i gave all but a couple to hubby's girls. your flowers are beautiful

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  21. The flowers on the cactus are amazing. And it must be great to have the orchids your father planted. Love the blue canning jars. I might need to get a few of those myself.

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  22. What a great post! So many fun things to comment on :-) How wonderful that you have your father's orchids. What a treasure :-) I love the colors in your all of your blocks. Great choices! Your low volume quilt is lovely. I'd like to make one someday and yours is inspiring!

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  23. You are not the last. Mine have been completed for several months. I'll have to spread them on the floor and so I have been putting off sewing the blocks together.

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  24. Your grand-daughter's looks so sweet in their outfits. Love your quilt but yes, the blue dots did stand out a little too much! Enjoy your grandkids!

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  25. Welcome spring to your garden. I love those orchids too. I have got one and it flowers on my birthday! I just love all your mug rugs. You are very creative with them - Hugs Nat

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  26. Wow what gorgeous flowers and having some that once were your Father's makes them even more special. I still have an indoor plant that was started from my GrandMother-in-law who has now been gone for over 25 years that is very special to me....I saw yours and Linda's mug rugs on the Flickr website....you both do such gorgeous work and am so glad you are both in our little swap group..........your other WIPs are going to be wonderful finishes!

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  27. Beautiful flowers Mary and those canning jars are so neat! What a sweet little mug rug and you're not the last to finish your Easy Street. I just put the last border on mine but....it still has to be quilted.

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  28. Beautiful work as always :) I love orchids but we cant grow them outside here in the UK so mine are all indoors. Those blue jars are great!

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  29. Loved reading this post and all the different things you included... from the flowers to the quilt to the photo of your granddaughters. Have fun with your visiting grandchildren.

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  30. Awesome post, Mary! Those blocks and mug rugs really caught my eye!

    And the blue canning jars -- simply too cool!!!

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  31. I need to find some of those blue jars--guess I'll stop at Walmart on the way home. Is that where you found yours?

    Fun to read your post, as always, and this time I'm determined to comment so you know I've been here. I love the costumes, the orchids, and esp. that Cross-X quilt block exchange!

    But I really liked the photo of the roses in the blue jars on that beautiful quilt. Thanks for such a spot of beauty.

    Elizabeth E.
    opquilt.com

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  32. I love the blue jars. I just saw them today at walmart but I didnt realize that they were a celebratory thing. Mason jars are so popular right now.There are so many things you can do with them. I love your quilt top. I dont see anything jumping out at me.

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  33. Interesting the green lilly, looks almost like an orchid. Great to have those from your Dad. Beautiful quilting as usual.

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